A NINE-YEAR-OLD African elephant named Janu is the latest arrival at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol.

The young bull is one of two elephants due to arrive at the zoo as part of its Elephant Eden project, which is the largest elephant habitat in northern Europe promoting welfare advances.

Janu, who has come from the Port Lympne Reserve in Kent, will now be company for female elephant Buta and marks the beginning of the establishment of the new herd at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm.

Energetic Janu is being given on loan to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm by Port Lympne and will be followed by Kruger, the parks remaining mature bull elephant, on a permanent basis. The decision to move the elephants to Noah’s Ark was agreed by all parties with the welfare and long term future of each animal the primary focus.

Elephant Eden is designed to offer enrichment and welfare advances for elephants already living in captivity, and is the largest of its kind.

With extensive grazing areas, sand yards, mud wallows and a state-of-the-art heated elephant barn, it offers significantly more space to roam, giving them the freedom to walk several kilometres a day.

The project has been led by Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm’s Director Anthony Bush, at a cost of £2 million, assisted by DEFRA grant funding.

The 120 acre zoo park has appointed a new team of experienced elephant Keepers to run the elephant complex to ensure the best care is given to each elephant.

Noah’s Ark’s Head Elephant Keeper Sandra de Rek has over 12 years’ experience working closely with elephants in both the UK and the USA. She said: “I’m really proud of what we are achieving here at Noah’s Ark, particularly how well Buta has settled in and now we are excited to welcome Janu, our first bull, and introduce him to his new home.

“Establishing a good social unit with elephants is very important and this is a crucial time. We are all working very hard to do this right and ensure the best of care is given to each of our elephants as they arrive and get used to their new surroundings.”

4 comments

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